Recency Bias

The tendency to treat recent events or information with more weight when making judgements or decisions whilst undervaluing information or experiences further in the past.

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Key Insights & Principles

Decision Making

1. The recent past is not a good predictor of the long term future.
2. Recent events and experiences come to mind more readily, so we tend to give them more weight when making decisions.
3. Recent events and experiences tend to have a greater impact on our emotional state.

1. Review long term trends and information when making decisions.
2. Develop mechanisms that enable you to pause and take a step back after recent events, or when information comes to light.
3. Practice not reacting immediately to recent events.

Book References